Owning a home is one of the most exciting and rewarding experiences, and highlights the degree of a person’s stability in the community. The owning of a home, while extremely satisfying, requires a vested and acute devotion of attention by the home owner, especially into the air conditioning unit. There are several things that both a new and seasoned home owner can do to keep their units in excellent operating condition.

Know Your System

The competitive fair market economy of the United States has created an environment that fosters technological advancement that is unmatched in the world. The product market is always advancing, bringing new and improved products that achieve higher standards of performance regularly. The home owner needs to make a purposeful effort to identify their specific system in in order to take care of it properly.

The first step to care and maintenance of your air conditioning system is to locate or obtain the manuals for your system. There should be at least two, depending on the type of system you have. If your central air has a design that incorporates the entire system into one unit in one location, it is possible to have one book that covers all of the maintenance required. A lot of homes will have a unit outside of the home that removes the moisture from the air and a system located inside the home that will force the air throughout the home through the duct system. It is possible and rather likely that you will be provided with two manuals in this type of setup. There is no substitute for first hand source information created by the manufacturer that identifies the required regular maintenance for your system. Read the manual and look for a checklist of monthly, quarterly, and annual maintenance checks that need to be executed for the preservation of your system’s operational health. Get familiar with the components of your AC system, especially the air filter system, the external unit, and the internal central air unit. It is not necessary to have a technical troubleshooting education to do the regular maintenance.

The Basics

Once you know where the basic components of your system are, the next step is to identify the maintenance operations you can perform yourself. Recognize immediately that safety is going to have to take a high priority concern. Without professional licensing and training, you need to be careful to follow the instructions in your manual. The first step is to always turn off any electric at the power panel of the unit and make sure it is powered down. Once the unit is powered down, depending on the maintenance you are performing, you are able to proceed carefully.

The most basic task in routine maintenance is to change your air filter. A clogged air filter will drastically impact your system’s performance. There are several types of filters on the market. Some filters are disposable and must be replaced, while other ones can be cleaned and reinstalled. If you have a serviceable air filter, then you must make sure it is completely dry before you put it back in place.

Another routine maintenance check commonly included in a biannual inspection is to make sure the AC drain line is clear of debris and flow is unrestricted. When water builds up in the drain system, moisture circulates through the blower assembly and renders your AC system ineffective. Moisture in the system will also cause component damage in the form of rust and can cause more expensive repairs. While you have the power off and the filter out, it is a good time to clean any dirt or pooled water in the drain pan.

For the more confident homeowner, there are a few other steps to take for regular maintenance. Again, with the power off, inspect your coolant unit. There is an item that looks similar to a radiator in your car, called a condenser. You may have to remove a cover to get to it, but it should be inspected for debris. As water and dirt circulate in the external unit due to its own operation or inclement weather conditions, the fins of the unit may become clogged and restrict air flow. The fins are very delicate and require the utmost care when performing any level of maintenance. There is a tool called a comb that literally looks something like a comb that can be used to protect the fins while you comb out the dirt. It is a good idea to use some sort of softening agent or spray to try and loosen the dirt beforehand and perhaps eliminate the need to use a comb altogether. The risks of damage are severely mitigated when you clean your unit regularly because it prevents significant build up that will require more direct and intense cleaning methods.

One of the last remaining maintenance checks that a homeowner can execute is to visually inspect the duct work in the attic or under the floor of the home, depending on how your home was constructed. If there is a disconnected duct or breach in the airway, the conditioned air will be contaminated and reduce the effectiveness of the AC production. Some rooms may be cooler than others and there may be smells or dirt inside of those rooms coming through the vents.

Third Party Maintenance

During routine maintenance, the biggest risk to the homeowner is possible damage to the fins of the condenser. It is a good idea to delegate that responsibility to a HVAC (heating, ventilation, air conditioning) technician who is familiar with the tools and knows the delicate nature of the condenser to not damage it during maintenance. Air conditioning is complex and poses the risk of bodily harm and property damage to the uninitiated. There are several issues that require the paid services of a professional, such as those at bobheinmiller.com, to keep your unit in tip top shape.

Only licensed and certified professionals can purchase Freon in any real quantity. AC units require exact amounts of refrigerant that must be installed with the proper tools and techniques. There is usually no dipstick to check the level of the refrigerant and it must be checked with gauges for proper readings. Keeping the unit at the correct levels of refrigerant will prevent more severe issues to the pump and keep the air cooling operation efficient.

Air conditioning repair companies will normally offer an annual inspection to look over the entire system for nominal charges. Establishing a relationship with AC companies and performing proactive checks will help prevent larger issues and keep major repair costs down. The homeowner that fixes a problem only with a major repair usually discovers they have an even bigger list of things that need repairs, unlike the homeowner that performs regular maintenance. Keeping your unit in top shape does not have to be an intimidating process, it can be one more part of homeownership that makes the house into your home.

The author, Ray Donato, is a home improvement guru who is constantly working around the house in his spare time to make sure everything runs perfectly. If you're interested in learning more about Ray you can visit Google+.

Tightening the monetary belt is something everyone is partaking in given the instability of the economic climate. Saving money when possible provides more opportunities for individuals to put cash away for a rainy day or invest in the future.

Some of the best ways to save money are home improvement projects, home maintenance projects, and personal lawn care. If you are a homeowner, there are many chores that can be done to lower your overall maintenance costs. Probably the most expensive of these ventures is your air conditioning unit.

Solving your own A/C problems may save you a ton of money, but if not done properly, could end up doing more harm than good. With technology and internet communication, the access to accurate knowledge is endless – here are five sources that are reliable for DIY AC maintenance.

5 Sources for DIY AC Maintenance

YouTube – Prior to YouTube and self-help videos displayed by users on the site, most AC units scared the average person because of the complexity of components. DIY repairers would have to read a paper manual 30 pages long just to get started, without even seeing the system prior to attempting work on it. YouTube has changed everything for the average DIY person because it provides visual guides and simple interpretations for many maintenance and home improvement projects. Some video posters even create channels geared towards repairing equipment or maintaining home appliances. When you are trying to understand, learn, and apply a series of steps, visual representation is usually the best route for efficient results. Just type in: DIY AC Maintenance, along with your AC unit specs, and you’ll be surprised what you can find.

Quora.com – This is a relatively new informational search engine that incorporates many aspects of specific knowledge, not just AC maintenance. In fact, Quora.com will help you answer just about any question in the world, specifically questions involving professional or modern social problems. Just post your question, follow various professionals, or browse different categories. You’ll find enough information to get you started, although most of that information will not be visual.

Visit Manufacturer’s Website – Sometimes the best way to accomplish a task is to gather information from the foundational source. Rather than searching all over the internet for various forums and chat rooms related to AC maintenance (your model/make specifically), it may serve you better just to visit the manufacturer's website. Most manufacturers’ these days provide contact information for contractors, handymen, and other various installers to better assist proper usage of the product. From the installation to repairs, you’ll be able to find a phone number for help during DIY maintenance.

Discussion Boards & Chat Rooms – Although this is not my favored option, as most information provided through these sources is unverifiable, there are a few spots where you can find answers. Quora.com is essentially a blog or discussion board, but sometimes quick answers are hard to find. By just typing your model/make in the google search bar with a phrase like, “How to maintain [your model/make goes here],” you’ll be amazed the amount of information comes up.

EnergyStar – I could not complete this list without talking about EnergyStar. This government-funded appliance certification house is one of the best resources for increasing efficiencies throughout your home. From your refrigerator to your A/C unit, EnergyStar is an excellent secondary resource to have in any DIY project – specifically projects involving maintenance. If maintenance is not done properly, the power output will be affected, causing energy bills to skyrocket each month.

Matthew Hall is a freelance writer and do-it-yourself enthusiast who is always striving to keep up on home maintenance. However, he can't do everything himself, to resolve AC problems he's not qualified to handle he turns to Facemyer AC. You can learn more about Matthew by visiting on Google+.